Lumber-stacker for kiln-drying.



D. H. TANNER.

[UMBER STACKEROR KILN DRYING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3o. |915 Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

D. R. TANNER.

LUMBER STACKER FOR KILN DRYING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 19m.'

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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D. R. TANNER.

LUMBER sTAcKERToR KILN DINING.A Y

Patented Mar. 217, 1917.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30 |9E5. LQQU'Q.,

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D. R. Ummm.l LUMBER STACKER FOR KILN DRYING.l

APPLICATION FILED S-PT. 30| 1915.

Patented Mar. 27, 19V/.

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'DANEL RL TNNER, 0F LA GRANDE, OREGGN.

LUMBER-STACKER FOR KILN-DRYING.

Application led September 30, 1915.

To aZZ whom t may concern."

Be it known that I, DANIEL R. TANNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Grande, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lumber-Stackers forKiln-Drying, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lumber stackers and has to domore particularly with mechanism of this character for stacking lumberon edge.

It is one of the objects to provide an improved mechanism and method forstacking lumber on edge in such a manner that each tier of lumber willbe stacked and maintained under pressure, during theV stackingoperation, the pressure being retained at the completion of the stackingoperation, tier against tier, so that after the carrier is in the kilnand the boards have shrunk, they will be held in spacedfrelation so asto be subjected to drying action 0n all areas thereof. The result ofthis improved mechanism and method greatly shortens the period ofkilning and thereby materially increases the capacity of the plant.

A further feature of my invention con# sists in providing means wherebystickers may not only be inserted at desired points over the carrier,but also, at endwise points beyond the carrier and near the ends of theboards irrespective of the'eXtent of projection of the'ends of theboards beyond the carrier. The result and advantage of this feature isthat edging of the board inwardly from the ends, will be restricted tothe points of location of the end-most stickv ers and the latter may bedisposed as near as one inch inside of the ends of the lumber load, thestickers being held in place because of the pressure to which the loadis subjected, and not being otherwise supported.

A further feature of the. invention consists in providing a carrier withmeans whereby the latter is held in predetermined positions abreast ofthe stacker, during the loading operation, and gradually moved past,through, or under the stacker as the carrier is being loaded, thisfeature ofv my invention being preferably embodied in a stacker which isinclined with respect to the vertical, together with means forcorrespondingly inclining the carrier for gravity Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917. serial no. 53,346.

movement of the carrier to or away from the stacker during the loadingoperation.

A further feature of my invention consists in providing means forrestricting gravity movement ofthe carrier away from the loader, duringthe loading operation, and in providing means for supporting a portionyof the loadrof thecarrier, Vsuch load supporting means being releasablegradually duringthe loading operation, synchronously with the gradualrelease imparted to the carrier. f A

A further object and'feature of this invention is to provide means forlControlling the descent of lumber, in built-up tiers, from the stackeronto the carrier, so as to avoid sticking of one end of a board,especially the first board dropped, thereby compelling the operator tostamp down the elevated or stuck end into a horizontal position withrespect to the remaining end. The device of my invention provides forthe dropping of boards onto counter-weighted carriers which descend asthe tier is built up and allow the tier to lower into position onto thecarrier.

My invention also inclldesnovel sticker and stake guards for coactionwith the stickers and stakes to form a continuing surface of abutmentfor the boards to be loaded so that the boards will not strike on theupper ends of the stickers or stakes asthey are loaded onto the carrier.This improved feature also embodies yielding sticker 'holders formaintaining pressure on the last stickers inserted next to the stacker,during the loading operation, My invention also includes means forexerting pressure on the upper and lower ends of each sticker during theloading operation.

A very important feature of myvinvention consists in providing a lumbercarrier which is movable on its own wheels from the rear of the stacker,past, through or under the stacker during the loading operation, andthence forwardly of the stacker toward the point of neXt deposition,which may be the kiln, said carrier moving all in one general direction.In this connection, I may say that this feature is preferably embodiedin a construction whereby the carrier is run on its own wheels, in alumber empty condition, along incoming transport tracks, the carrierbeing transferred from the transporttracksto a transfer ear which is rununderneath the stacker, and after the carrier is loaded, the saidtransfer car a'dvances the loaded' carrier to outgoing transport tracksfrom whence thecarrier may be advanced toward the kiln.

v Other features and objects of the invention, both as a method and asan apparatus,

will be more fully described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and will be more particularly pointed out in and by theappended claims.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of my improved stackershowing the lumber carrier in the position which it would assume duringthe stacking or loading optype showing the disposition of controllingcable means.

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale showing the position of thecarrier stake guard with respect to the stacker, when the first tier oflumber is about'to be loaded.-

Fig.V 7 is a sectionalY view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, on an enlargedscale.

Fig. Sis a skeleton developed view of certain shafting and gravity cableactuated means. y

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a portion of a loaded carrier showing theboards after the same have been kilned and illustrating how shrinkagewill cause the' boards to space apart from each, edge from edge, so asto expose bothV edges, both ends and both sides tothe drying operation.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifferent figures .of the drawings.

Referencewill first be made to a portion of the trackage mechanism shownin this case, and completelyillustrated and claimed in my co-pendingYapplication filed Sept. 2, 1915, Ser. No.` 48,662. Incoming transporttracks, one only being shown, are designated at 1, andare disposed atright angles to transfer trackage, the latter being composed of sections2, 3 and 4. Section 4 of the transfer trackage extends abreast ofoutgoing transport tracks 5 and it will benoted that sections 2- and 4of the transfer trackage is Y at a lower elevation than transport tracks1 and 5.VV VA transfer car 6, preferably provided with bearing wheels v7for traversing three rail transfer trackage,as'illustrated inFig. 2, isprovided with transport track sections move the transfer car past,through, or under a lumber stacker during the loading operation, aiidthence to advance the transfer car to outgoing transport tracks and runthe carrier off from the transfer ear on its own wheels onto theoutgoing transport tracks.

Section 3 of the transfer trackage is arranged to be tilted, as shown inF l, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear, and I will nextdescribe this novel feature in detail.

Transfer trackage section 3 is mounted upon a rigid framework 9 which istransversely fulcrumed on a` shaft or piping 10. Said fulcrumed shaft 10is mounted in suitable bearings 11, Ona sunken portion 12, of the millfioor, and the trackage frame is supported upon blocks 13 which aremounted upon fulcrumed shaft 10. It will he noted by reference to Fig. 1that fulerum shaft 10 is disposed appreciably nearer the end 14, of theframe 9, than to the end 15. Transfer trackage section 2 terminates in abutt joint end 16 and transfer trackage section 4 termiiiates inchamfered ends 17. In the present construction, in order to tilttransfer section 3, I elevate end 15 and lower end 14 of the frame 9,and movement of frame 9 to a noi'- mal position will elevate end 14 andlower end 15 so that frame 9 will. be horizontal, and its track-age Bwill be Hush with sections 2 and 4.

I will next describe the novel means for tilting the track section Anoperating lever 18, is mounted upon a. shaft 19 which is, journaled torotate about a fixed axis. The operating lever 18 is mounted between itsends on said shaft 19, and the remaining end 20, is connected at 21.with a link 22, the remaining end of said link being connected at 23with a tilting lever 24. Tilting` lever 24 is mounted upon a shaft Y25which is journaled in bearings to rotate about a fixed axis. Said lever24 is mounted on shaft 25 nearer one end than the other, of said lever,and the shorter end 26 is provided with a roller 27 adapted to engage atrack block 28, on the lower side of frame 9. Track block 28 has a tracksurface for engagement by roller 26 so that when lever 24 is swung intoa substantially vertical position, lever 24 will elevate end 14 so thatframe 9 will be in a horizontal position. The-arrangement is such thatwhen frame 9 is in a horizontal position, the centers of Ylever 24 willbe in dead center relation so as to lock frame 9 in a horizontalposition. In

the position shown in Fig. 1, a block 29 IOO limits tilting movement offrame 9 and also steadies frame 9 when in such tilted position. On shaft9 is mounted one or more arms 30, each having rollers 31, adapted toride upon the track 32 of a track block 33. Track block 33 is mountedupon the lower face of frame 9 and the arrangement is such that whenlever 18 is moved into the position as shown in Fig. 1, to tilt frame 9,the centers of roller 31 and shaft 19 will be in dead center relation sothat frame 9 will be supported on arm 30, in a tilted position, and willbe steadied. by' one or more blocks 29, in such tilted position. lt willbe understood that frame 9 will be in a horizontal position whentransfer car 6, with its carrier, is run off from section 2 onto tosection 3, and that the tilting operation of frame 9 will occur when thelumber' carrier is empty, thereby enabling one operator to tilt theframe. It will also be clear, that as lever 18 is moved to the right ofFig. 6, the resulting shifting movement of the frame 9 to a horizontalposition will be under the weight of the lumber carrier and l may ifdesired provide a. stop block 34 for limiting tilting movement of theframe 9 beyond a horizontal position.

A specific point of novelty resides in the fact that fulcrum shaft 10 isdisposed in a certain relation with respect to the lumber stacker,hereinafter to be described, so that when the carrier is fully stackedit will have been so advanced with respect to the position shown in Fig.1, that a portion of the load will be on one side of a vertical axisintersecting the fulcrum shaft 10 and a portion will be on the otherside thereby substantially counterbalancing frame 9, under load, andthereby greatly facilitating the means with which frame 9 may berestored to a horizontal position.

l will next describe my improved stacker mechanism.

iin elevated framework 35, supported at 36, and by inner and outeruprights 37, 38 and 39 and 40, provides a platform 41 for the operator.Assorter mechanism fragmentarily indicated at 42, delivers to skids 43,from which the lumber discharges to receiving skids 44, where it may bemanipulated by the operator to be deposited in the stacker. Dependingfrom the platform 1, and accessible therefrom, are a plurality ofsticker pockets 45, one only being shown, said pockets being arranged tofacilitate the disposition therein of stickers run back on the emptycarrier on incoming tracks 1, as set forth in my hereinbefore identifiedlumber handling apparatus. The length of the pockets 45 is such that theupper ends of the stickers will be accessible to the operator onplatform 41.

My improved stacker, proper, includes end and central verticallydisposed skids which are shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and rlhe end skidstructures preferably comprise pairs of skids 46 and 47, the skids 46being of slightly increased height with respect to the skids 47. Thecentral skid structure comprises a central skid 48 which is preferablyequal in height to skid 46.

The receiving skids 44 terminate short of the stacker skids and aresupported by uprights 49. The skid surface between upright skids andreceiving skids 44 is continued by spanning bars 50, pivoted at 51, andmovable into and out of holders 52, the latter being mounted upon skids46 and 48. By means of this construction, the operator can pass betweenthe receiving skids 44 and the stacker skids, when occasion may requireas the bars 50 can be lifted upwardly on their hinges 51 to afford freepassage for the operator. Skids 46 are chamfered 0E near their upperends, as indicated at 53, the same being also true of skids 48. However,skids 47 do not extend to the same height as skids 46 and 48 andtherefore they need not be chamfered off as the boards will` have beenguided in their true course by the time they reach skids 47. In order totake up wear, all of the skids are provided Ywith facing or wearingstrips 54, 55, 56, and 57 and 58. The wearing strips for the longerskids extend up to the tops thereof, as shown in Fig. 4, and may besecured to the backs of said skids so as to provide an all metal contacton which the boards may be -slid into position. The pairs of end skidsare spaced apart from each other, slightly, and exten dinglongitudinally therebetween in facing relation, are guides 59, in whichboard lowering devices 60, are mounted, for vertical sliding movementtherein. Said lowering devices may be provided with oppositelyprojecting pairs of shoes 6l and 62, projecting into said guides, andnear the lower ends of said devices l provide each with a roller 63which projects forwardly of the faces of the stacker skids so as toreceive and support a board from the lower edge thereof. The uppermostposition of said lowering device 66 is shown in Fig. 4, and the guides59 are of suiicient length so that the lowering devices can descendsufliciently below the level of the lumber carrier so as to deposit theboards in supported relation on the latter. The function of the loweringdevices is to receive the first board of a tier to be stacked, at apoint nearer the upper portion of the stacker, and then descendgradually as the tier of lumber is built up, board by board, until afull tier has been stacked on the carrier.

Now a special feature of this invention consists in counter-weightingthe lowering devices in such a manner that as the load thereonincreases, as each board of the new tier is in position, therebyincreasing the trained over load on the lowering devices, thecounterweight of the lowering devices will increase in such a mannerthat the lumber will not descend 'by hard impact on the carrier. In thisoperation, edge portions of the lumber are often injured in such amanner as toV cause relatively high grade of lumber to be graded low.vTherefore the advantage will be appreciated, over the old method, ofgradually lowering the lumber so that an entire tier will be stacked,the tier being built up as it is stacked, and being gradually andYeasily let down on the stacker skids until it is in a. final position.

As illustrated, a chain or cable 64 is provided for each lowering deviceand is an idler 65 andconnected with the lowering device at 66. Theremaining end of the chain or cable 64 is reeved aboutV a drum 67,mounted upon a drum shaft 68. It will be understood that there will be achain 64 and a drum 67 foreach lowering device. The chains or Ycables 64are reeved about drum 67 in a contra-clock wise direction, looking atFig. 4. Thus the weight on the lowering devices will tend to untrain orunreeve the cable 64 and cause the shaft 68 to rotate in a clockwisedirection, looking at Fig. 4. Now mounted on shaft 68 is ay gravitycable or chain drum 69 about which a chain or cable 70 is trained in aclockwise direction. The chain or cable 70 is provided with a weight 71which normally causes stress to be imparted to shaft 68 in acontra-clockwise direction, thereby tending to elevate the lowering de-Y vices 60 into the position shown in Fig. 4.

Because of the novel construction set forth, a very advantageouscompensating action is obtained, which I will now describe inY detail.AWhen the lowering devices are at their highestv points the chains orcables 64 Vare reeved up to such a diameter that they will exertconsiderable leverage in rotating the shaft 68`in a clockwise direction.The first board of a tier to be stacked, which is loaded on theloweringdevices 60, will exert a relatively light thrust but the leverage onshaft 68 will be considerable. Now when the first boardV is placed inposition, with the lower-y ing devices in the position shown in Fig. 4,

thechains or cable 70 of the weight`71 will bewholly unreeved or unwoundas shown in Fig. 4, and willVV therefore exert a relatively, reducedVleverage opposing rotation o f shaft 68 in a clockwise direction.IrIowever, assuccessive boards are lowered upon the lowering devices 60and the weight on said'V devices increases, then the leverage of cablesor chains 64 will correspondingly decrease. Furthermore, as the chain orcable 70 is reeved onto the drum 69, in gradually Aincreasing diameter,the opposing" leverageY ofthe weight 71 will increase asthe weightkilning operation.

71 ascends. Therefore, as the load on the lowering devices 60 increasesthe opposing weight 71 will also increase and the stacked up tier ofboards will descend gradually and gently into a final position upon theearrier. In practice, I find it advantageous to connect the cables orchains 64 to diametrically opposite points with respect to the point ofconnection of cable or chain 70. With this disposition, and if thelengths of the chains are correctly proportioned, the terminal end ofchain will be completely unwound and the chain will pendantly hang fromthe drum 69 at the time the unloaders reach the uppermost position. Thusthe empty unloaders will not be abruptly arrested in their upperposition but they will reach'such position by a gentle arrestmentresulting from the complete unwinding of the chain 70 causing the weight71 to arrest further contra-clockwise rotation of shaft 68. Furthermore,the chains or cables 64 are so proportioned that when the loweringdevices 60 reach their lowermost points of travel, then said chains willbe completely paid out from their drums and will be suspended from theirterminal connection therewith. Therefore the lowering devices 60 willnot, and can not jam the lumber upon the carrier.

I will next describe my improved carrier, and also the means forcontrolling movement of the carrier while the same is being loaded.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, my improved carrier iscomposed of a plurality of truck units 72, mounted on wheels 7 3, eachunit comprising two end frames on which a transversely disposed bolster73 is mounted. The bolsters 73 are provided with suitable sockets forholding load stakes 74, at each end, there being stakes forwardly, andrearwardly, or on both sides of the load. The specific form of truckwhich may be highly advantageously used in this connection, is set forthin my application for improvement on unloading mechanism iiled the 21stday of Sept., 1915. I also prefer to use the improved kiln take-up, forthe stakes 74, as shown in the application of Irving and Tanner, filedJanuary 19, 1915, Serial Number 6,073. The importance of a springtake-up initial pressure during the loading operation, should bemaintained subsequent to the loading operation, in order to hold theintermediate boards in their initial positions so that Ywhen theyshrink, they will not fall down in superposed edge contact and preventthe edges, from being exposed to the connect bar 79 with arms 80.

After the transfer truck 6 has been dis posed in registry with incomingtransport tracks 1, and the carrier comprising Vtruck units 72, inindependent spaced relation, has been run onto the transfer car 6, thenthe transfer car 6 is advanced below the stacker, with the carrier, thelatter moving underneath the stacker. After the right hand end of thecarrier hasadvanced to the right of the stacker, as shown in Fig. 1,only sufficiently to expose the foremost sockets, then the stakes 74 areplaced in the position in Fig. 1 in said sockets. A restraining cable75, having a hook 76, is connected with said transfer truck 6. 'Ihecable 75 is trained about an idler sheave 77 and said cable 75 is thencereeved or wound about a drinn 78, mounted upon shaft 79. There will be acable 7 5 for connection with each end of the truck 6 and similar partswill be duplicated. The cables or chains are Wound about drums 78 in aclockwise direction, looking in the direction of Fig. 1.

I have found in practice, that it isdesirable to support the load on thecarrier, as well as the carrier, while the latter is being loaded. Iprefer to support the load by direct engagement with the first stakes 74inserted. I will now describe the stake supporting means which isintimately connected with the transfer car restraining means.

A stake supporting bar, for supporting the load, is indicated at 79 andthe same extends across or abreast of the stacking mechanism asillustrated in Fig. 2. Said bar 79, which may be formed of channel iron,is supported at its ends on supporting arms 80 which are pivotallymounted at 81 on uprights 39 and 40. 'Ihe stake supporting bar 79 isslidably mounted upon the supporting arms 80 and I preferably provideU-bolts 82 which straddle the arms 80, and to which are applied nuts 83,to loosely The free ends of arms 80 are connected by cables 84 and 85with the ends 86 and 87 .of bell crank lifting levers. Said bell cranklifting levers are mounted upon a. superstructure includl ing a beam 88which may be mounted upon uprights 39 and 40. Because of the` relativelyextensive span of the bar 79, I desirably support the same midway of itsend, this support comprising a supporting arm 89, pivoted at 90, and thefree end of which is connected with a lifting cable 91, with an end 92,of a bell crank lifting lever. Said bell crank levers are pivoted at 93,94 and 95 and each of said bell crank levers has a controlling arm,designated respectively at 96, 97 and 98. Arms 97 and 98 are connectedby cable 99, to operate in unison, and arm 97 is connected with arm 96by cable 100. The left hand bell crank lever is the controlling bellcrank lever and is provided with an extension 101 connected by cable102, having a hook 103, with an eye 104, which may be fixed to anystationary part, as indicated at 105. A suitable take-up 106 may beprovided to provide the proper adj ustment.

Hook 103 will be disposed in the position shown in 2, to hold the bar 79in an elevated position before the car is disposed in place to beloaded. After the car and stakes are in place to be loaded, the pressureon the bar 7 9 will be sufficient to hold it inV position.

rIhe intermediate supporting arm 89 is slidably connected with the stakesupporting bar 79 by asuitable loop 106.

I will next describe the manner in which the stakes are operativelyconnected with the load supporting bar.

As shown in Fig. 7, the stake supporting bar 7 9 is provided with threepairs of open guides 107, one pair only being shown, for each of thestakes of the carrier occupying the forward position as shown in Fig. 1,at 74.Y The stakes 74 are preferably of Lbeam construction and theflanges thereof are slidable into said open guides 107. When the emptycarrier is advanced to be loaded, with the forward sockets to the rightof Fig. 1, the stakes 74 are inserted in the sockets after the bar 7 9has been lowered and the upper ends of the stakes have been inserted in107. Even before pressure is applied, the parts will iit sufficientlytightly so that the bar 7 9 can not, because'of the pivotal mounting ofthe supporting arms 80, drop down along the stakes 74, even though theguides 107 are open. y

Having described the structure of the stake supporting bar, I will nextdescribe the manner in which it is operatively connected with thetransfer car so that gravity movement of; the transfer car will exertstress upon the stake supporting bar in such a manner that the upperportion of the load of lumber will be supported in predeterminedrelation with respect to the position of the carrier for the lumber.

Tension cables or chains 108, are connected with bar 7 9', at pointsopposite the endmost loader sheaves and said chains or cables 108 aretrained about guides 109, which are idlers, and thence downwardly wherethey are wound about drums 110 in a contra-clockwise direction, withreference to Fig. 5. Drums 110 are mounted on shaft 79 and because ofthe fact that the cables 108 and 75 are wound about their respectivedrums in opposite directions, it will be seen lby reference to Fig. 5,that when hook 76 moves to the right of Fig. 5, under weight of thetransfer car 6, that tension on cable 75 will turn shaft 79 in acontra-clockwise direction, with reference to Fig. 5, thereby paying outcables 108 to the same extent as cable 75 is paid out.V The weight ofthe `transfer car 6, on the inclined section 3, to-

gether with the carrier and whatever load may be on the carrier, will bevery considerable and therefore a considerable tension will beV eXtertedon cables 75 immediately after they have been connected with thetransfer car. y load upon the stakes 74 will exert a considerabletension on cables 108 and therefore alll of the stresseXerted-upon shaft79 will be in a contra-clockwise direction.

I will next describe the controlling means for regulating rotation ofshaft 79 under action of the'weight of the transfer car and carrier. Y Y

A controlling` shaft 111 is mounted in suitable bearings in uprights 39and 112 and is provided with a sprocket 113. Over sprocket 113 and asprocket 114 on shaft 79,

`is trained a sprocket chain 115. A ratchet wheel 116 is mounted on saidshaft 111 and .a pawl 117, pivoted at 118 on upright 39, is

adapted for engagement with said ratchet wheel. A rodV 119 is connectedat 120, with said pawl 117 and extends downwardly to its connection at121 with a lever 122. Lever Y 122 is pivotally mounted between its ends'inclined section 3. A controlling wheel 126 is 'mounted on shaft 111and is provided with hand grips 127 whereby shaft 79 may either beactuated or controlled in its movement as desired, the pawl and ratchetserving as an automatic locking means. As each tier of lumber isinserted on the car- Y riei, or rather stacked on the carrier, the

carrier and the stake supporter' are let out, by adjustment ofthecontrolling wheel 126, to the desired extent so as to space the stackedlumber suliciently away from the stacker to leave room for insertion ofthe next tier.

' I willnext describe the novel method and means-formaintaining theloose bodies of which the load is composed, namely the boards andstickersunder pressure during thelo'ading operation, and reference willalso be made to the novel means for guarding theY upper ends of thestickers and the stakes so that Vwhen the boards around thechamferedupper ends of the stacker skids, they will not hit the tops ofthe stickers, or theV tops of the stakes because of the improved guardextensions which I have pro- V' vided.

The skids 46, 47 and 48 are supported on supporting beams 128 and 129,secured to Yuprights 37 and 38, and I utilize one of said beams, namely129, as a support for Likewise, the weight of the pressure means forengaging the load of lumber as the same is being stacked to hold eachtier in tight engagement with its next adjacent tier. It will beunderstood, that if each newly stacked tier is forced into andsubsequently maintained in pressure engagement with the next precedingtier stack, then the oppositely acting spring controlled stakes 74 canconsequently act to maintain the initial pressure. However, ifintermediate tiers were stacked loose and not in tight lateralengagement with each other, then the spring controlled stakes 74 mightnot hold all of the tiers in tight abutting relation against theirstickers.

In the form shown, I have provided lower sticker engaging springs 130,there being five in number for this particular stacker, three of saidsprings being mounted upon support 129 and the remaining two beingmounted upon uprights 38 and 37. As all of said springs are the same inconstruction and operation, only one need be described in detail.

Each spring has an intermediate pivoted support 131 and the upper end oftach spring is anchored at 132 so as to project the lower end of thespring outwardly as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, the springs are ofheavy steel and they are tempered so as to take an outward position andmaintain such position under very heavy resistance. The springs 130 arelocated at the point at which the stickers are disposed in the load andas the three intermediate springs 130 I dispose near the truck units, itwill be seen that compression of the opposed stakes 74. under theirsprings 74, will act upon the interposed tiers to compress the samedirectly against their stickers. Furthermore, the in- Y termediatestickers may rest upon the truck units or rather the bolsters 73thereof.

At this point, I desire to emphasize the importance of a novel featureof this invention which provides for the placing of stickers near theends of the load of lumber so that the boards will be prevented fromedging inwardly from their ends beyond the points at which the endmoststickers are disposed. Furthermore, the endmost stickers may be disposedas near the ends of the boards as desired. Inasmuch as the endmoststickers would inevitably be beyond the lumber carrier, endwise, I haveprovided special supports, the main function of which is to limitdownward projection of initially inserted stickers.

As illustrated, I dispose sticker supports 133 along side the outermostor end springs 130, and I provide the supports 133 with angle irons 134onto which the endmost stickers are projected into position, the angleirons 134 limiting downward movement of the stickers by hand, s0 thatthe endmost .of the bars stickers will assume the same elevation in theload as the intermediate stickers which rest upon the holsters 7 3.

Now it will be clear that whenever a sticker is inserted in position, itwill be irn- Inediately engaged by its respective spring 130 withsufficient tension to not only hold the sticker against displacement butto also press the sticker and its next adjacent tier against theremainder of the load with suincient pressure to maintain the load incompact condition. fill of the foregoing refers to the lower ends of thestickers.

T will next describe tension means which is automatically placed uponthe upper ends of the stickers.

Supporting vbeams for the sticker and stake guards and the upper stickertension members are indicated at 135 and 136. @n the left hand sidefaces of said beams 135 and 136, with respect to Fig. 1, are mountedtension guards and tension members 137,

all of which are similar in construction and operation, there being onefor cach sticker corresponding to the number of springs 130. Each of thecombined guard and tension bars 137 may if desired be hinged at 138, tothe upper beam 136, and bolt 139 extending through beam 135 and engagingbars 137,

with their heads 140, are held under tension by springs 141, so thatthe.y lower ends of bars 137 will normally takev a position in spacedrelation with respect to the front faces of the stacker skids. The lowerends position to the right of Fig. 1, from the position which they areshown in said i'igure as in that view they are shown slightly sprung tothe left by pressure against the sticker' and load. Said bars 137 arepreferably formed of angle iron and they extend downwardly a suiiicientdistance so as to extend about the stickers and form a continuousoverlapping surface facing the tiers v to be stacked so that when theboards round the upper ends of skids 46 they will iirst slide along theguards 137 but can not drag or hit on the top of the nearest sticker.This is clearly shown in Fig. 1, where the guard 137 extends about andslightly below the top of said sticker nearest the lumber which is beingstacked. New in addition to forming a guard, bar 137 normally engagesthe top of the sticker and forces the saine to the right of Fig. 1,against the load, soas to hold the upper tier in pressure engagement inthe same manner as the lower tiers are held. The tension of the bar 137and the spring 130, will continue to be exerted upon the stickers as thecar 6 is advanced for stacking of the next tier. 0f course the next tierstacked will compress the springs 130, so that when the last tier isstacked the springs 130 will engage the lower board there and the bar137 will engage the upper 137 will also normally take aend of thesticker. Then when the car is advanced, and new stickers are inserted,they will be engaged by the spring 130 and bar 137, in the manner shownin Fig. 1.

lit will be noted, by reference to Fig. 6, that in stacking the firsttier of lumber, the stakes 74 will be disposed abreast of, and in closerelation with the skids 46. New in order to prevent the boards fromstriking the tops of the stakes 74, when they round over the upper ends53 of the skids 46, it is necessary to guard the tops of the stakes 7 4,but this guard for the stakes 74 will only come into play when the firsttier is stacked. After the first tier is stacked, then the stakes 74will be out of reach of the boards forming the subsequent tiers.

For each stake l provide a stake guard 142 which is also of angle iron,and which will be seen more particularly by reference to Fig. 7 andwhich is designed to overlap the front eye-flanges nearest the skids 46,at the tops of the stakes 74. The stake guards 142 extend upwardlyabreast of the right hand faces of beams 135 and 136 and the upper endof each guard 142 is tensioned by a spring 143 which is interposedbetween the upper end. of the guard 142 and a washer 144, on a bolt 145,which extends through beam 136. New in order to insure engage mentbetween the stakes 74 and their guards 142, which engagement will be ofa relatively slight length, T preferably provide the stake supportingbar 79 with a guard abutment 146 which projects forwardly of the bar 7 9so that it will engage the guard 142 and advance the same up to theposition to which the stake 74 has been advanced toward the skid 46.Thus the guard 142 will prevent the boards from hitting the top of thestake 74 as the irst tier is stacked.' Tn F ig. 6, l have shown the arm89, hinged at 90, to central guard 142 but it will be understood thatthe guards 142 for the end stakes, adjacent the skids 46, will be freeat their lower ends. When the last tier has been loaded, the car 6 willhave been advanced so that the stakes on the opposite side of the load,from the stake 74, in Fig. 1, can be inserted downwardly into theirsockets at the left hand ends of the bolster 73, in advance of the beams128 and 129. 0f course sockets will be adjusted to permit of freeentrance of these stakes and then subsequently the sockets will bereleased so as to cause the stake last inserted to take its position intight engagement against the last tier of lumber, this operation beingclear from the use of my improved take-up stakes in my hereinbeforeidentified application. Thus it will be seen that initial pressureagainst the tiers of lumber, as the tiers are stacked, tier by tier,will be maintained even up to the last tier and even up to the insertionof the last stakes. Therefore, the carrier will Y ing the periodheretofore necessary in properly kilning lumber. I consider that theforegoing feature is novel, both as an apparatus and as a method.

After the 'last stakes have been inserted vand `the loaded carrier isready to be advanced, then, as hereinbefore described, it will be insuch a forward position on the track section 8, with respect to theposition shown in Fig. l, as kto dispose the load inpracticallycounter-balanced relation on op-V posite sides of fulcrum shaft 10.rThen lever 18 will be turned to the right of Fig. l, thereby permittingthe left hand end 15 to lower and the right hand end la of frame 9 toraise until the frame is in a horizontal position. Then the car 6 isreleased from cables 'or chains 75 and hook 103 will be brought down andengaged with eye 10a so as toy elevate the stake engaging bar 79', fromengagement with the stakes 7 4. Then the carV 6 may be advanced ontotrackage section 4 until rail `sections 8 register with the outgoingtransport rails 5, whereupon the carrier, comprising the truck units 72,may be rolled onto tracks 7 5 and toward the kiln. f

'It is believed that the advantages and utility of the apparatus andmethod invention hereinbefore described will be clearly Y. understood,and while I have herein shown and described specic forms of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited thereto eX- cept for suchlimitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In a lumber stacking mechanism, an edge stacker inclined tothe vertical, a lumber carrier, trackage for said lumber car- Copes ofthis patent'may be obtained for rier to permit movement of the latterbeneath and gradually forwardly of the stacker to receive the lumbertherefrom, means for tilting a portion of said trackage to incline thecarrier for gravity movement during the stacking operation, means forcontrolling gravity movement of said carrier during the stackingoperation, said track tilting means being shiftable to normal after saidcarrier is loaded to permit the latter to be advanced on said trackage,substantially as described.

2. In a lumber stacking mechanism, a lumber stacker, a lumber carrier,trackage supporting said carrier for movement into loading relation withrespect to said stacker, a section of said trackagebeing tiltable abouta tilting or fulcrum axis, means for tilting said section of trackage tocause gravity movement of the carrier during the stacking or loadingoperation, said stacker being in such relation with respect to saidfulcrum axis as to dispose the carrier in substantially counter-balancedrelation on the tiltable track section with respect to said fulcrum axisat the time that the carrier is finally loaded, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a lumber loading mechanism, an edge stacker, a lumber carrier forreceiving a load from said stacker, and superposed depending hingedspring members for exerting tension on the upper portion of the load tohold the latter in compact condition while the carrier is being loaded,substantially as described.

4. In a lumber loading mechanism, an edge stacker, a lumber carrier forreceiving a load from said stacker, and superposed depending hingedspring guards for exerting tension on the upper portion of the load tohold the latter in compact condition while the carrier is being loaded,and for guarding the tops of carrier stickers during the loadingprocess.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL R. TANNER.

Witnesses i NnLLrE HILLS, C. II. FINN.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.

